Americas Growing Pains :: essays research papers

Americas first two presidents, George majuscule and John Adams, both resolutelyadhered to the idea that America should crusade to stay out of warfare at all times, and dideverything in their power to evade declaring and entering into war. Throughout theirreigns, war was ubiquitous in Europe, and many countries (especially Britain and France)make numerous attempts to obtain and secure Americas promote. Washington andAdams both believed that America should not side with any foreign country during timesof war making the fundamental purport of Americas first foreign policy the elusion ofwar at all costs. This policy was manifested throughout Washington and Adamsinvolvement in, and reactions to the following affairs the Citizen genet controversy, theJay Treaty, and the XYZ Affair. One of Washingtons initial attempts to pursue this policy was his counteractionto the Genet Affair. In 1793, George Washington title neutrality, thus declaringAmerica an uninvolved, nonpartisan country in t imes of war. Simultaneously, EdmondCharles Genet was sent to the United States as a special representative from France toimplore support in the French Revolution. Genet had previously resolved that theproclamation of neutrality was a harmless little pleasantry designed to throw dust in theeyes of the British. Commencing in Charleston, South Carolina, Genet traveledthroughout the United States presenting his credentials. In addition to his quest forsupport, he began to license American vessels to moderate as privateers against Britishshipping and to grant French military commissions to a number of Americans in order toprepare expeditions against Spanish and British territorial claims in North America. These two actions were in direct defilement of American law. Washington demandedthat he cease his unlawful actions, but Genet continued to commission privateers becausehe enticed the public opinion. This incident is a lucid manifestation of Washingtonsample efforts to avoid war. Genet had copiously essayed to obtain American support inthe French Revolution, and in accordance with Americas foreign policy, Washingtonvehemently resisted any involvement in war. In an attempt to deplete the brat ofAmericans supporting the French, he avowed that Genet would be expelled. Washingtons reaction to this controversy verified his foreign policy by showing that hewas willing to avoid war at all costs, even if alliances were broken and foreign relationswere damaged. In addition to Washingtons response to the Genet affair, he further strived toavert involvement in war by signing the Jay Treaty. This treaty was written to preventwar with Britain, but concurrently it tug Americas relationship with France bygoing against their alliance.